Chain-link connector.



W. H. McLAUGHLIN.

CHAIN LINK CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY IO. I915.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

II M2IIIIII looking in the direction out of resilient sheet metal.

WILLIAM H. MoLAUGi-HLIN, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0FONE-HALF '10 CHARLES TOLE,

0F LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHAIN-LINK CONNECTOR.

Application filed May 10, 1915. Serial No. 27,089.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. Mo- LAUGHLIN, a citizen of'the UnitedStates, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inChain-Link Connectors, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to chain-link connectors of the snap-hook typeand has for its objects to provide a strong solid metal open link with apivoted sheet metal guard, to keep the respective end-links of the twochains in their respective eyes of the connector, thus guarding againsttheir becoming superposed and, by twisting, moving the guard on itspivot, and further, to provide spring or resilient means carryinglocking means engaging with the link to prevent the guard from turningon its pivot, either by gravity or the possible twisting action of theend-links of the chains, all of which objects are accomplished by thecombination, con struction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter moreparticularly set forth, described and claimed.

In theaccompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents'a side elevation of myinvention as applied .and closed, the guard being shown, in dottedlines, in its extreme open position; Fig. 2 represents a top plan viewof the same; and Fig. 3 represents a crosssectional view on the line 33of Fig. 1,

of the arrows.

Referring now in detail to the drawings A indicates the end link of oneof the chains to be connected and B indicates the end link of the otherchain, these two links slipping in succession over the free end 1 of thecon nector C, the link A being slipped over the central dividing point 2and coming to a stop in the eye 3 against the inner edge of the end orsection 4 of the connector C and the link B retaining its position inthe other eye, 5, bearing against the inner edge of the section 1 of theconnector.

To the upper part of the section 4, by means of the pivot 6 passingtherethrough, is pivotally connected the bifurcated end 7 of the guardD, which is prefe iialply stamped 1s is of sufiicient'length to extendwell over the o enin between the ends of the sections 1 an 4 and isprovided on each side midway between. its two ends with a resilient in-Specification of Letters Patent.

guard D Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

it it ill in tegral downward extension or clamping plate 8, the intervalbetween these two clamping plates 8 corresponding to the thickness ofthe dividing point 2, see Fig. 3. These two plates are provided withregistering inwardly presented lugs 9 stamped in the material of eachclamp member or plate 8 and integral therewith. These lugs 9 snap intocorresponding lateral recesses in the sides of point 2 and thereby lockthe guard in closed position. It will be noted that this makes a verystrong lock, vertical strain being resisted equally by the resiliency ofboth plates 8 and any lateral strain acting to force one plate 8 towardthe connector C while trying to force the other away, so that in allcases the effect of any lateral strain on one 'plate will becounteracted by its eifect on the other plate.

The free end of the guard D is provided with an integral extension 10,see Fig. 1, so that any convenient nail or tool may be insertedthereunder for purposes of prying the guard open.

It will be understood that any suitable materials may be used for-theseveral parts.

It is my intention and desire that the following claims be given thebroadest construction consistent with their wording.

Having thus described my invention, what ters Patent is:

1. A chain link qconnector consisting of a single piece of non-resilientmetal divided into two eyes by a dividing point and adapted to receivestrain in a straight line in opposite directions from the respectiveterminal links of two chains, said dividing point being provided withtwo registering lateral recesses, in combination with a guard having abifurcated end pivotally connected to said piece of metal adjacent oneof the ends thereof, the other end of said guard projecting slightlyover the other end of said piece for the purpose set forth and havingbetween its ends two integral resilient dividing plates extending downalong the sides of said dividing polnt and provided with lateralinwardly presented lugs fitting into said recesses, said platespreventing the terminal link of either chain from working into the wrongeye during slackness of the chain. 7

2. A chain link connector consisting of a single piece having two eyesdivided by a formed to receive strain in opposite directions only.

In'testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. MGLAUGHLIN.

Witnesses:

GEo. E. TOLE, CHAS. S. MARTIN.

